Upgrade Report [GeekTech: Tackling Your Tech Questions - 07/19/2005]
- From: Ablang <HilaryDuffPerfectMan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 22:47:30 -0700
July 19th, 2005
GeekTech: Tackling Your Tech Questions
Sr. Editor Tom Mainelli
Here at GeekTech Central I get lots of interesting e-mail. Most of it
is from folks like me who enjoy writing and talking about PCs almost
as much as they like cracking open the case. From building, to
upgrading, to occasionally destroying a computer--I love to hear these
stories, so thanks for sharing.
I also get quite a few messages asking for specific buying advice
("Should I buy Dell model XYJ or the HP model TXK?"). Fact is, unless
I've actually tested the products in question, I can't really offer
that kind of advice. I can, however, point you to PC World's dynamite
Info Centers, where you'll find the best, most thoroughly tested
product reviews on the planet.
Desktop Computers:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/973287/0/
PC Upgrades:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/972349/0/
Finally, I often open the old digital mailbag and find a message from
a savvy reader with a tech-related question that I'm pretty sure is on
many other minds. This week I'll take a crack at answering some of the
best questions. (Note: I've shortened some of the messages in the
interest of space.)
Keep that e-mail coming.
Dual-Monitor Goodies
I received a flood of e-mail after I wrote about the joys of dual
monitorship. In addition to messages from the many readers who asked
simply, "What took you so long?" I also received quite a few from
folks who wanted more info about how it all works.
"How does your computer differentiate between the two monitors when
you're entering commands from a single keyboard? Who gets the
strokes?"
--Terry Robertson, Charlotte, North Carolina
That's the beauty of using Microsoft Windows and a dual-output
graphics card: That setup does all the work for you. After you install
your second monitor, right-click on your desktop to open Windows XP's
Display dialog box and click on the Settings tab. You should see both
your new monitors listed (numbers one and two). From here you decide
which one will be your primary display. My left monitor sits directly
in front of me, with the right just off to the side a bit, so I make
the left one my primary.
For the number-two monitor I do not check the box next to "Use this
device as the primary monitor," but I do check "Extend my windows
desktop onto this monitor." Then I match up the screen resolution and
color quality (1280 by 1024 and Highest, or 32-bit, color) on my
Dells--and that's it. Piece of cake.
If you have an older graphics card that lacks dual outputs you may
still be able to enjoy a dual-monitor setup. Check out Steve Bass's
June "Hassle-Free PC," in which he discusses Tritton's $80 See2 USB
2.0 SVGA Adapter:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/973288/0/
Did you miss my earlier newsletter? If so, read "Double Your Fun With
a Second Monitor":
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/972342/0/
Dual Monitors, Times Two
For some folks, two monitors is simply not enough.
"I am looking at the Asus A8N-SLI motherboard for the use of the two
PCI Express graphics slots. I want to run two cards and four monitors
and I don't know if this is actually possible."
--Rodney Huff, Owensboro, Kentucky
Rodney, your question set NVidia's director of technical marketing,
Nick Stam, on a quest to determine just how easy or hard it would be
to run four monitors off of an SLI-enabled rig. Turns out, it's not
very difficult at all. Nick ran his own test with three NEC 19-inch
flat panels and one ViewSonic CRT (with a DVI-VGA dongle) attached to
two Geforce 7800 GTX graphics cards installed on an Asus A8N-SLI
motherboard.
The trick is that you set up the system the same way you would a
standard SLI rig, but you don't enable the Multi-GPU mode in the main
NVidia control panel.
Once your rig is up and running, you'll have several options, Stam
says: "For example, the user might select 'dualview' to get two
separately managed screens per graphics board, and thus four separate
screens across the two graphics boards. Or the user can experiment
with various spanning modes."
Thanks for the great answer, Nick!
BTW, if you're interested in that Asus motherboard, go to our Product
Finder for specs and pricing:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/973289/0/
Advanced Micro Devices and Next-Generation Memory
Adding a second monitor to your desktop is easy as pie, but if you
have your heart set on building an Athlon 64-based PC using DDR2
memory, you could run into a bit of an issue, notes one astute reader.
Why hasn't AMD supported DDR2 yet?
--Sudhir Milabatula, Toronto
Intel launched chip sets last year with support for DDR2, the
evolutionary update to today's double data rate memory:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/756429/0/
After Intel's move, many observers expected AMD to follow suit.
However, AMD spokesperson Damon Muzny says the company hasn't moved to
DDR2 yet because its processors don't need the faster-running memory
to remain competitive with Intel. PC World's recent tests of systems
running the companies' latest high-end chips seem to bear that out:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/972348/0/
One of the many differences between AMD's and Intel's processors is
that while Intel's chips utilize memory controllers that reside in the
chip set, AMD processors have memory controllers integrated right into
the processor. Muzny says this helps cut down on latency issues,
offering faster performance despite DDR's slightly slower memory
speeds.
However, it also means that when AMD does opt to move to DDR2 the
company will have to make changes to the CPU itself--not just to the
supporting chip set. With DDR2 speeds, pricing, and availability
improving, that time should arrive in the not-to-distant future, Muzny
says, although he won't be more specific.
If you're not up to speed on DDR2, read "DDR2 Takes Memory to the Next
Level" for background:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/973290/0/
The 64-Bit Antivirus Answer
When I wrote about my first experience with Windows XP Professional
x64 Edition, I lamented the lack of an antivirus app for home users
from mainstream vendors such as McAfee, Symantec, and Trend Micro:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/972531/0/
I recently touched base with all three vendors and confirmed that none
yet offer a 64-bit version of their top-shelf antivirus products.
However, as many astute GeekTech readers were quick to point out, that
doesn't mean early adopters need to compute without protection. It
turns out the Czech company Alwil Software offers a 64-bit version of
its Avast 4 antivirus software:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/973291/0/
Even better: It's a free download for home users. I haven't tried it
yet, but the readers who suggested it to me seem to like it.
I asked Alwil Program Manager Ondrej Vlcek to elaborate on his
company's free product, and the fact that Avast has gone to 64-bit
before anybody else. He explains: "Porting a system tool to Windows
x64 mainly means porting its kernel-mode components (i.e. device
drivers). This is because legacy 32-bit device drivers don't run on
this new platform. The engine itself can be 32-bit, and actually is
better to be 32-bit as 99.9 percent of today's malware is still 32-bit
(i.e. not 64-bit) and that's what we're trying to cover. That doesn't
mean we don't detect 64-bit malware, though. It's just that there's no
point of creating a plain 64-bit AV solution (with no 32-bit parts)
yet."
Whither 64-Bit Disc Image Apps?
Okay, fearless readers: You showed me the way on 64-bit antivirus
apps. But how about 64-bit disc imaging?
"I've been doing imaging with Drive Image and Ghost for years. Do you
happen to know who will be first with 64 bit?"
--Tom Thomas, Wilmington, North Carolina
Like the antivirus folks, the major disc-imaging vendors seem to be
taking a wait-and-see approach to 64-bit support. I contacted reps for
Symantec's Norton Ghost and Acronis's True Image to find out the scoop
on 64 bits.
It doesn't appear that Symantec will offer any sort of interim patch
for its current Ghost 9, and the company is staying mum about any
plans to support 64 bits in a future version of the app. Here's what
the company's rep had to say: "Since Norton Ghost 10 has not yet been
announced, I cannot provide details on whether or not it will be
compatible with Windows x64. Symantec is monitoring the adoption of
Windows x64 very closely and will ensure they deliver the right
solutions at the right time to meet customers' needs."
Over at Acronis, Marketing Director Stephen Lawton is a tad bit more
forthcoming, but not much. "We are doing some development work on
64-bit versions of Windows (server and desktop), but at this point I
can't give you a specific date when it will be available," he says.
Lawton goes on to say that he hopes to have a 64-bit product by year's
end, but that he can't promise it will happen.
However, a resourceful Thomas isn't waiting for Symantec or Acronis to
catch up. He's subsequently devised his own solution. "I have been
using PQDI 2002 [PowerQuest Drive Image--now owned by Symantec] under
a DOS boot and successfully imaging my 64-bit machines," he writes.
That's the way to take the disc-image bull by the horns.
BTW, our Product Finder lists pricing for PowerQuest Drive Image:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/973292/0/
Have a question or comment? Write to Tom Mainelli:
geektech*pcworld.com
Read Tom Mainelli's regularly published "GeekTech" columns:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/528178/15377828/239026/0/
===
"We have seen the enemy, and it is us."
-- Walt Kelly
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